Heavy Snow in Maine, February 5, 2016

Name: Heavy Snow in Maine, February 5, 2016
Start: 2016-02-05T05:00
End: 2016-02-05T19:00
Location: Maine

February 5, 2016 · NWS GYX · 11 events in 11 counties and zones

An elongated area of low pressure stretching from the outer banks of North Carolina to the Gulf of Maine on the morning of the 5th intensified as it moved rapidly northeast during the day. The storm brought a moderate to heavy snowfall to much of the area south of the foothills with little or no snow in the mountains.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 11 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

Tornadoes
Tropical storms and surge
Floods
Wind
Hail
Winter weather
Heat and drought
Cold
Fire, smoke and dust
Marine and coastal
Other

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 11

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

What happened

The episode as NWS GYX wrote it up.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Gray, ME wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Feb 5, 4:23 AM EST, 37 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Feb 5, 4:23 AM EST, 37 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAY ME
423 AM EST FRI FEB 5 2016

.SYNOPSIS...
LOW PRESSURE WILL TRACK QUICKLY NORTHEAST ALONG A STATIONARY
FRONT TODAY. THE WESTERN EDGE OF THE SNOW SHIELD WITH THIS SYSTEM
WILL EXTEND ACROSS SOUTHERN NEW HAMPSHIRE AND MAINE WITH SNOW
ACCUMULATIONS OF 3 TO 6 INCHES. A RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE FOLLOWS
FOR TONIGHT INTO SATURDAY. A COLD FRONT WILL CROSS THE REGION
SUNDAY. THERE IS A CHANCE THAT A COASTAL STORM AFFECTS THE REGION
EARLY NEXT WEEK.

&&

.NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 PM THIS EVENING/...
S/WV TROF APPROACHING THE MID ATLANTIC COAST WILL LIFT SURFACE LOW
RAIPIDLY NORTHEAST TODAY. A SHIELD OF PRECIPITATION IS EXPANDING
TO OUR SOUTH AND IS STARTING TO MOVE INTO SOUTHERN NEW HAMPSHIRE
NOW. PRECIPITATIONS IS INITIALLY FALLING AS RAIN BUT SHOULD
QUICKLY CHANGE TO SNOW AS EVAPORTIVE COOLING TAKES PLACE. SHOULD
SEE A QUICK 3 TO 6 INCH SNOWFALL WITH LIGHTER AMOUNTS FARTHER
INLAND. SNOW SHOULD END BY EARLY AFTERNOON IN NEW HAMPSHIRE AND BY
MID AFTERNOON IN EASTERN PORTIONS OF THE FORECAST AREA. STAYED
CLOSE TO ECMWF FOR PRECIPITATION WITH 0.60 TO 0.70 ALONG THE
COAST. EXPECT SOME BANDING OF PRECIPITATION AND CANT RULE OUT A
FEW LOCALIZED AREAS WHERE SNOWFALL COMES IN ABOVE 6 INCHES.
MOVED PRECIPITATION SHIELD INLAND FARTHER THAN PREVIOUS FORECAST
PACKAGE AND EXPANDED THE WINTER WEATHER ADVIORIES INLAND ONE SET
OF ZONES. THE HEAVIEST SNOW IS LIKELY IN THE 7 TO 11 TIME FRAME
IN SOUTHEAST NEW HAMPSHIRE AND SOUTHWEST MAINE.

&&

.SHORT TERM /6 PM THIS EVENING THROUGH 6 PM SATURDAY/...
LOW PRESSURE MOVES QUICKLY ALONG THE NOVA SCOTIA COAST THIS
EVENING AND OUT OF THE PICTURE. EXPECT CLEARING SKIES TONIGHT WITH
TEMPERATURES FALLING INTO THE TEENS FOR THE MOST PART. SATURDAY A
COLD FRONT APPROACHES WITH A CHANCE OF SNOW SHOWERS IN THE
MOUNTAINS.

&&

.LONG TERM /SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY/...
MODELS ALL AGREE ON AN ARCTIC COLD FRONT DROPPING SOUTH ACROSS
THE REGION SUNDAY. THATS WHERE AGREEMENT ENDS. THE EVOLUTION OF
THE NEXT SYSTEM FOR EARLY NEXT WEEK WILL BE QUITE COMPLEX AND
WILL DEPEND ON INTENSITY OF SEVERAL STRONG SHORT WAVES ROTATING
AROUND THE BASE OF A DIGGING LONG WAVE TROF WHICH REACHES THE MID
ATLANTIC COAST BY TUE. AT THIS POINT CONSIDERING HOW LARGE THE
SYSTEM WILL BE...EXPECT SNOWFALL ACROSS THE CWA LATE MON THROUGH
TUE. THE AMOUNTS WILL BE DETERMINED BY THE EVOLUTION AND THEN
TRACK OF ANY COASTAL LOW DEVELOPMENT. THE SYSTEM MAY BECOME
VERTICALLY STACKED BY LATE TUE WHICH WOULD SLOW THE SYSTEM MORE
THAN MODELS INDICATE.

DUE TO LARGE AMOUNTS OF UNCERTAINTY OF EVOLUTION WILL NEED TO
SIMPLY WATCH LATEST TRENDS OF MODELS. THERE IS POTENTIAL FOR THIS
SYSTEM TO BECOME A SIGNIFICANT SNOWSTORM LATE MON THROUGH TUE FOR
MAINE AND NEW HAMPSHIRE...ESPECIALLY ALONG COASTAL AREAS.

ONCE THE SYSTEM EXITS BY TUE NIGHT A COLD CYCLONIC FLOW WILL
CONTINUE FOR THE REST OF THE WEEK. SEVERAL SHORT WAVES MOVING
THROUGH THIS FLOW WILL BRING SCATTERED SNOW SHOWERS AT
TIMES...ESPECIALLY IN THE MOUNTAINS.

TEMPERATURES WILL BE A LITTLE BELOW NORMAL AS PER BLEND OF MODELS
SUGGEST. FOR TUE/WED LOWERED THE MAX TEMPS FROM SUPERBLEND
GUIDANCE DUE TO COLD HIGH TO NORTH LOCKING COLD AIR IN PLACE ON
NORTH DRAINAGE WINDS COMBINED WITH SNOWFALL.

&&

.AVIATION /08Z FRIDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/...
SHORT TERM...CONDITIONS DETERIORATE TO IFR THIS MORNING WITH VFR
RETURNING BY AFTERNOON. VFR EXPECTED TONIGHT AND SATURDAY.

LONG TERM...COULD SEE SOME SNOW SHOWERS AND MVFR/IFR CONDITIONS IN
THE MOUNTAINS SAT NIGHT THROUGH SUN. OTHERWISE IT SHOULD BE VFR
ACROSS THE REGION. LOW PRESSURE TRACKING UP THE COAST WILL LIKELY
BRING LOWER CEILINGS AND SNOWFALL MON NIGHT INTO TUE.

&&

.MARINE...
SHORT TERM...WINDS WILL INCREASE TO SMALL CRAFT LEVELS. EXPECT
WINDS TO REMAIN BELOW GALE CRITERIA BUT WILL HAVE TO WATCH THIS
CLOSELY DURING THE DAY.

LONG TERM...A COLD FRONT MOVES SOUTH ACROSS THE WATERS SUNDAY
BRINGING STRONG OFFSHORE WINDS WITH GUSTS 25 TO 30 KT. HIGH
PRESSURE THEN CROSSES THE AREA MONDAY. LOW PRESSURE TRACKS UP THE
EAST COAST AND TOWARD CAPE COD TUESDAY WITH GALES POSSIBLE TUE.

&&

.GYX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
ME...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 1 PM EST THIS AFTERNOON FOR
     MEZ018>020-023>025.
     WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 7 PM EST THIS EVENING FOR MEZ021-
     022-026>028.
NH...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 1 PM EST THIS AFTERNOON FOR
     NHZ006-008>010-012>015.
MARINE...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY UNTIL 6 PM EST THIS EVENING FOR
     ANZ150>154.

&&

NEAR TERM...TFH
SHORT TERM...TFH

Hazardous weather outlook, Feb 5, 2:58 AM EST, 2 hours 2 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAY ME
258 AM EST FRI FEB 5 2016

MEZ018>020-023>025-NHZ006-008>010-012>015-060800-
INTERIOR YORK-INTERIOR CUMBERLAND-ANDROSCOGGIN-COASTAL YORK-
COASTAL CUMBERLAND-SAGADAHOC-SOUTHERN CARROLL-MERRIMACK-BELKNAP-
STRAFFORD-EASTERN HILLSBOROUGH NH-INTERIOR ROCKINGHAM-
COASTAL ROCKINGHAM-WESTERN AND CENTRAL HILLSBOROUGH NH-
258 AM EST FRI FEB 5 2016

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 1 PM EST THIS AFTERNOON...

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR WESTERN MAINE...CENTRAL NEW
HAMPSHIRE...NORTHERN NEW HAMPSHIRE...SOUTHEASTERN NEW HAMPSHIRE AND
SOUTHERN NEW HAMPSHIRE.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT.

PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE
INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS.

   WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY.

LOW PRESSURE MOVING UP THE NORTHEAST COAST IS EXPECTED TO BRING
SNOWFALL TO NEW HAMPSHIRE AND MAINE MONDAY NIGHT AND TUESDAY. THE
BEST CHANCE FOR SIGNIFICANT ACCUMULATIONS WILL BE ALONG THE
COAST. TOTAL SNOWFALL ACCUMULATIONS COULD BE MODERATE TO HEAVY.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO CALL OR RADIO IN SIGNIFICANT WEATHER
CONDITIONS ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES.

MEZ021-022-026>028-060800-
KENNEBEC-INTERIOR WALDO-LINCOLN-KNOX-COASTAL WALDO-
258 AM EST FRI FEB 5 2016

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM EST THIS EVENING...

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR WESTERN MAINE.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT.

PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE
INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS.

   WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY.

LOW PRESSURE MOVING UP THE NORTHEAST COAST IS EXPECTED TO BRING
SNOWFALL TO NEW HAMPSHIRE AND MAINE MONDAY NIGHT AND TUESDAY. THE
BEST CHANCE FOR SIGNIFICANT ACCUMULATIONS WILL BE ALONG THE
COAST. TOTAL SNOWFALL ACCUMULATIONS COULD BE MODERATE TO HEAVY.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO CALL OR RADIO IN SIGNIFICANT WEATHER
CONDITIONS ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES.

MEZ007>009-012>014-NHZ001>005-007-011-060800-
NORTHERN OXFORD-NORTHERN FRANKLIN-CENTRAL SOMERSET-SOUTHERN OXFORD-
SOUTHERN FRANKLIN-SOUTHERN SOMERSET-NORTHERN COOS-SOUTHERN COOS-
NORTHERN GRAFTON-NORTHERN CARROLL-SOUTHERN GRAFTON-SULLIVAN-
CHESHIRE NH-
258 AM EST FRI FEB 5 2016

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR WESTERN MAINE...CENTRAL NEW
HAMPSHIRE...NORTHERN NEW HAMPSHIRE AND SOUTHERN NEW HAMPSHIRE.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT.

HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY.

LOW PRESSURE MOVING UP THE NORTHEAST COAST IS EXPECTED TO BRING
SNOWFALL TO NEW HAMPSHIRE AND MAINE MONDAY NIGHT AND TUESDAY. THE
BEST CHANCE FOR SIGNIFICANT ACCUMULATIONS WILL BE ALONG THE
COAST. TOTAL SNOWFALL ACCUMULATIONS COULD BE MODERATE TO HEAVY.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO CALL OR RADIO IN SIGNIFICANT WEATHER
CONDITIONS ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES.

ANZ150>154-060800-
STONINGTON ME TO PORT CLYDE ME OUT TO 25 NM-PENOBSCOT BAY-
PORT CLYDE ME TO CAPE ELIZABETH ME OUT TO 25 NM-CASCO BAY-
CAPE ELIZABETH ME TO MERRIMACK RIVER MA OUT TO 25 NM-
258 AM EST FRI FEB 5 2016

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR CASCO BAY...PENOBSCOT
BAY...THE COASTAL WATERS FROM CAPE ELIZABETH ME TO MERRIMACK RIVER
MA...THE COASTAL WATERS FROM PORT CLYDE ME TO CAPE ELIZABETH ME AND
THE COASTAL WATERS FROM STONINGTON ME TO PORT CLYDE ME.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT.

HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY.

AS LOW PRESSURE MOVES UP THE NORTHEAST COAST NEXT MONDAY INTO
TUESDAY... EASTERLY GALES ARE POSSIBLE ON TUESDAY.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO CALL OR RADIO IN SIGNIFICANT WEATHER
CONDITIONS ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES.

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

11 heavy snow. Local standard time, as filed.

Heavy Snow, Androscoggin

When: February 5, 5:00 AM EST to 7:00 PM EST
Where: Androscoggin forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 44.166, -70.206 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Coastal Cumberland

When: February 5, 5:00 AM EST to 7:00 PM EST
Where: Coastal Cumberland forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 43.806, -70.330 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Coastal Waldo

When: February 5, 5:00 AM EST to 7:00 PM EST
Where: Coastal Waldo forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 44.485, -69.122 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Coastal York

When: February 5, 5:00 AM EST to 7:00 PM EST
Where: Coastal York forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 43.429, -70.670 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Interior Cumberland

When: February 5, 5:00 AM EST to 7:00 PM EST
Where: Interior Cumberland forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 43.806, -70.330 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Interior Waldo

When: February 5, 5:00 AM EST to 7:00 PM EST
Where: Interior Waldo forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 44.485, -69.122 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Interior York

When: February 5, 5:00 AM EST to 7:00 PM EST
Where: Interior York forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 43.429, -70.670 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Kennebec

When: February 5, 5:00 AM EST to 7:00 PM EST
Where: Kennebec forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 44.409, -69.767 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Knox

When: February 5, 5:00 AM EST to 7:00 PM EST
Where: Knox forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 44.076, -69.126 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Lincoln

When: February 5, 5:00 AM EST to 7:00 PM EST
Where: Lincoln forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 43.998, -69.526 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Sagadahoc

When: February 5, 5:00 AM EST to 7:00 PM EST
Where: Sagadahoc forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 43.912, -69.839 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Heavy Snow: Snowfall reaching the local warning threshold without the other hazards of a winter storm.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Maine in 2016 Every state in 2016 This day in weather history Warnings in Maine, February 2016

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 616790, 616791, 616792, 616793, 616794, 616795, 616796, 616797, 616798, 616799, 616800.